Remove the imposter’s mask.
You’ve likely heard the joke about the mother who went in to wake up her son and tell him it was time for church.
“I’m not going,” he said.
“Why not?”
“I’ll give you two reasons. One, they don’t like me, and two, I don’t like them.
His mother replied, “I’ll give you two reasons why you should go. One, you’re fifty-nine years old, and two, you’re the pastor!”
Ouch. Ever felt that way? I’m sure you have. I have.
Not long after embarking on my serious pursuit of becoming an author, I began experiencing something I’ve learned is common among writers—imposter syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is “…the experience of feeling like a phony—you feel as though at any moment you are going to be found out as a fraud—like you don’t belong where you are, and you only got there through dumb luck.”1
In my first career, I had doubts, was often concerned about making the right decisions, and sometimes wondered if I had what it took to be successful. But, in writing, I often feel like I’m pretending. That’s new.
I’ve come to learn imposter syndrome is a common malady among writers. Not just new writers, but successful authors who’ve published many books over many years. Maya Angelou, author, actress, screenwriter, poet and civil rights activist said,
“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’”2
Maybe you find yourself feeling this way. You ask yourself, “When are they going to realize I’m not the parent I appear to be?” Or, “When will someone come up to me and demand I stop pretending to be happily married?”
There may even be times you wonder if you are ever going to amount to anything. You just can’t seem to reach the potential the world says you should. You may be successful. In fact, this syndrome often manifests itself in high achievers. But still, thoughts of unworthiness or self-doubt crush your spirit. It’s like having a mask over your life, disguising your real self. You feel like an imposter.
So, the question is, “Who are you?”
I realize not everyone reading this is a believer in Jesus Christ. You may not have a personal relationship with Him. You may not talk with Him and call Him Lord and Savior. If you are a believer, and struggle with imposter syndrome running your life, there is hope. If you don’t have that personal relationship, there is also hope because He desires that relationship with you, too.
God tells us, through Paul, in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (ESV)
You can know that when you put your trust in Christ, He makes you new. Does that mean you are forever free from doubts, fears, and insecurities? No. You still live in your old body. You’re likely to struggle between what your body wants and what your new spiritual self desires in an effort to walk with Jesus.
Even physically, we sense this constant warring between our bodies, declining in an imperfect world and our new spiritual selves yearning for perfection in Christ.
Paul also tells us in Romans 7:19-20 that he fought the same battles.
“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.”
Paul had to make the same decisions you and I have to make. Do we let sin, revealing itself in old selfish desires rule us, or do we yield to our better, new life in Christ?
Since Jesus is powerful enough to create something new in us, I choose Him. I choose to seek His will for my life, pray to Him, live for Him. You can, too.
Go ahead. Right this minute. Remove the mask. Say to yourself and Jesus, “I choose You. I’m not an imposter. As David, a man after God’s own heart put it,
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
Have you struggled with imposter syndrome? Tell us how you overcame this condition, or how we can pray for you.
1Imposter Syndrome from https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469
2As a writer, I chose a writer who experienced imposter syndrome. You can find Maya Angelou’s quote among others experiencing imposter syndrome at http://bit.ly/1PNkGaS
What an outstanding, thought-provoking post Tim! I’m sure you know you’re not alone in experiencing Imposter Syndrome. I constantly question what on earth I’m thinking…. putting myself out there on my blog, trying to help other people when I sometimes struggle myself. Your reminder that as believers, we don’t have to worry about being imposters, because we are new creations in Christ, is such an important one. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our feelings and perceptions about ourselves and forget that. Remembering WHOSE we are can help us avoid the ‘imposter’ trap. Thanks for this! Pinning!
Thank you Terri. You make a super point in that, as my wife often reminds our girls, “Remember who you are and whose you are!”. I so appreciate your input on this!
Interesting read. I definitely have these thoughts in running my business. It is the voices of satan ringing in my head – you can’t do this. Who are you fooling? You aren’t capable. Just give up.
Thanks Andy. I like the way you put that. “…voices of satan ringing in my head…” I think that’s exactly what happens sometimes. Satan takes a small fear or even just a concern and amplifies it by bombarding us with it until we start to believe it. And, it’s interesting, too, that just as many articles on imposter syndrome point out, it happens to successful people–of which you are one. Praying for you friend.
Tim, Great informative post. The photo of one of our trick or treaters a few years ago goes great with the new term “imposter syndrome”. Very interesting to learn this happens to successful people. God made no mistakes. Reading His word teaches us that He loves us and that we should not believe satan. We can depend on God to renew a right spirit in us daily so we can authentically love ourselves and others.